THE economic outlook is of increasing concern to people in the North-East, a report by analysts Experian Business Strategies reveals.

The report, for the final quarter of last year, found that the number of people in the region who said there were able to "make ends meet" fell from 40 per cent in the previous quarter to 37 per cent. Ten per cent claim to be in debt, up from six per cent.

However, figures reveal that those who are optimistic about the future of the economy still have a 12 per cent lead over the pessimists, compared with 27 per cent in the previous quarter.

Fear of unemployment in the coming year rose slightly.